Podcast
Food Junkies Podcast
Hosted by Clarissa Kennedy · EN
Welcome to the "Food Junkies" podcast! Here we aim to provide you with the experience, strength and hope of professionals actively working on the front lines in the field of Food Addiciton. The purpose of our show is to educate YOU the listener and increase overall awareness about Food Addiction as a recognized disorder. Here we discuss all things recovery, exploring the many pathways people take towards abstinence in order to achieve a health forward lifestyle. Most importantly how to THRIVE rather than just survive. So stay positive, make a change for yourself, tell others about your change, and hopefully the message will spread.
The content on our show does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder or mental health concern.
15episodes
Episodes
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Episode 283: Natalie Peltro | From Picky Eater to Plate Adventurer — Helping Kids (and Adults) Fall in Love with Real Food
May 2800:53:57Tap to summarizeWhat do you do when your child will only eat three foods — and none of them are vegetables? For Natalie Peltro, certified nutritional therapist and lifestyle medicine expert, that was her reality. Her son was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism at 18 months, and the journey to help him heal through food became the foundation of her entire career. In this episode, Natalie shares the framework she's used with hundreds of families to overcome picky eating — not through force, pressure, or sneaky tricks that backfire — but through biology, nervous system awareness, and what she calls the Four E's. Whether you're navigating picky eating in your household, supporting clients who struggle with ultra-processed food habits from childhood, or just trying to understand why your kid will eat mac and cheese but nothing green, this conversation is full of practical, compassionate strategies you can start using today. In this episode, we cover: How Natalie's son went from eating only 3 foods (nonverbal, severely autistic) to graduating mainstream school with honors Why "fed is best" may be an outdated framework in today's ultra-processed food environment The biology of picky eating — zinc deficiency, taste perception, and why green foods taste bitter to nutrient-deficient kids The 10% Fading Rule: how to transform mac and cheese into a nutrient-dense meal without your child noticing The Three Stages of Picky Eaters: Resistor, Adventurer, and Negotiator — and why the approach must be different for each The Four E's Framework: Expectation, Emotional Intelligence, Environment, and Encouragement Why "taste training" works faster in kids than adults (3–5 days vs. 7–14) How your nervous system is sabotaging mealtime — and what to do before you even pick up the plate The coupon system, safe plates, and other creative strategies that actually work How to talk to grandparents and caregivers about food changes without blowing up the relationship About Natalie Peltro: Natalie is the co-founder of Blue Life RX and creator of the Neuronutrition Program (formerly "Bring the Fun Back to Mealtime"), which helps families with picky eaters — including children with autism and ARFID — expand their food diversity through biology-first, fun-first strategies. She's also the host of the upcoming Brilliant Brains podcast. 🌐 Website: https://www.blueliferx.com/neuronutrition 📱 Instagram: nataliepelto_blueliferx ⓕ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueLifeRx 🎙️Podcast: Out in June 2026 – keep checking the website!! The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week. 📧Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you. Leave a comment below — we'd love to know: what's your biggest challenge around picky eating or feeding your family real food? The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
Transcribe →Episode 282: Dr. Erin Bellamy | Can a Diet Replace Psychiatric Meds? Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for Food Addiction & Mental Health
May 2100:54:19Tap to summarizeWhat if the most powerful tool for mental health recovery isn't a medication — it's your metabolism? Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy joins Dr. Vera Tarman for a deep dive into ketogenic metabolic therapy: what it is, how it works, and why it may be one of the most underutilized interventions in both psychiatric care and food addiction recovery. Dr. Bellamy is a chartered psychologist, CEO of IKRT (International Ketogenic Research & Therapy), and a research fellow at the University of East London. She has been researching and applying ketogenic metabolic therapy in clinical settings since 2014, with a background that bridges eating disorders, psychiatric research, and metabolic health. In this episode, Vera and Erin discuss: How Erin went from eating disorder and alexithymia research to ketogenic metabolic psychiatry — and why the field's "biopsychosocial" model was missing the bio The difference between metabolic psychiatry, ketogenic therapy, and therapeutic carbohydrate restriction — and why the terminology matters What carbohydrate range actually produces therapeutic ketosis (and why "dirty keto" doesn't cut it) The shared mechanistic pathways across psychiatric diagnoses — including mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and neuroinflammation Why antipsychotic medications create metabolic dysfunction, and how ketogenic therapy can help offset those side effects The GABA/glutamate shift that makes ketones naturally anxiolytic — and why this may work differently than the serotonin model of depression The "buffer effect": what it feels like to be in ketosis when you're a food addict — and why some people describe it as a pane of glass between themselves and a trigger food How ketogenic therapy compares to GLP-1 medications (Ozempic/Wegovy) for reducing food noise — and Erin's concerns about the long-term research MCT oil vs. exogenous ketones: when each is useful, and when exogenous ketones are counterproductive Applying ketogenic therapy to people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring food addiction How to support vegan or plant-based clients who want to pursue ketogenic therapy Why the first week matters most — and how to help clients through withdrawal without triggering a binge The 19-person IKRT group program published in Frontiers — and what's coming next in the research Connect with Dr. Erin Bellamy: 🌐Web: Integrative Ketogenic Research and Therapies | ketogenic diet and mental health Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week. Connect with Food Junkies Podcast: 🌐Web: Food Junkies Podcast ▶️ YouTube: Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube 💌Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always...
Transcribe →Food Junkies Recovery Stories Ep 34: Peggy Bowers
May 1500:51:00Tap to summarizeCJ is joined today by Peggy, whose story is as raw as it is relatable. From the age of six, Peggy began navigating a complicated relationship with food that would follow her into adulthood. She shares candidly about tying her worth to always having a boyfriend, and the deep need for validation that drove those choices. While she was able to walk away from cigarettes with ease, food proved to be a far more difficult battle. Through years of weight fluctuations and self-discovery, Peggy's authenticity shines. Her honesty, vulnerability, and insight will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to feel enough. If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com
Transcribe →Episode 281: Dr. Stephen Sideroff | The 9 Pillars of Resilience in Recovery
May 1400:49:42Tap to summarizeWhat if the missing piece in your recovery isn't more willpower — it's resilience? In this deeply inspiring episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Stephen Sideroff, UCLA psychologist, researcher, and one of the world's leading experts on stress, addiction, and optimal performance. With over 40 years at the intersection of neuroscience and recovery, Dr. Sideroff breaks down his comprehensive Nine Pillars of Resilience model and shows exactly how it applies to recovery from food addiction. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Why stress is the #1 driver of both addiction and relapse — and what to do about it The real definition of resilience All Nine Pillars of Resilience explained — and how each one applies to food addiction Why your inner critic is keeping you stuck — and how to replace it The nervous system truth behind burnout: why most of us are already on the continuum How to "dress rehearse" recovery moments so you're prepared when cravings hit Why saying "this is difficult" actually makes things harder The biological age study Dr. Sideroff is running right now — and his own remarkable results How joy is not a luxury but a physiological necessity for recovery and aging Why anxiety and worry are a faulty strategy — and what to do instead The concept of "the path" — and why you don't have to do everything at once What quantum leadership has to do with recovery culture Why 12-step programs work through the lens of the resilience model 🏛️ THE NINE PILLARS OF RESILIENCE: Relationship Pillars: Relationship with yourself — your inner voice, self-compassion, self-acceptance Relationship with others — healthy boundaries, connection, support Relationship with something greater — community, spirituality, purpose Organism Balance & Mastery: Physical balance & mastery —...
Transcribe →Episode 91: Dr. Ben Bikman
Sep 21, 2022Tap to summarizeDr. Bikman's research focus is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that mediate the disruption that causes and accompanies metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dementia. Driven by his academic training (Ph.D. in Bioenergetics and postdoctoral fellowship with the Duke-National University of Singapore in metabolic disorders), he is currently exploring the contrasting roles of insulin and ketones as key drivers of metabolic function. He frequently publishes his research in peer-reviewed journals and presents at international science meetings. The focus of Dr. Bikman's lab (the Laboratory of Obesity and Metabolism) is twofold. First, they aim to identify the molecular mechanisms that explain the increased risk of disease that accompanies weight gain, with particular emphasis on the etiology of insulin resistance and disrupted mitochondrial function. Second, they hope to reveal novel cellular processes that are responsible for fat development and accrual, with a particular emphasis on white/brown fat and the contrasting effects of insulin and ketones. Much of the lab's recent work is focused on the pathogenicity of the hormone insulin. Insulin, while necessary for healthy living, elicits significant and harmful changes in tissue metabolic function when chronically elevated. Several projects have stemmed from this work, including a focus on the varying effects of dietary macronutrients (e.g., carbohydrates vs. fats) on insulin homeostasis, the effects of insulin on brown adipose tissue (and metabolic rate), and insulin-induced brain alterations. The lab employs numerous pharmacological and genetic tools to better understand the origins and consequences of ceramide accumulation on various factors related to metabolic function, including signal transduction, substrate utilization, and energy expenditure. In this episode: The personal/professional journey The Fat Cell & The Role of Insulin Free Fatty Acids & Fatty Liver Disease Weight Gain The China Study Insulin Resistance Cutting Carbs, Prioritizing Protein, and not Fearing Fat Fasting, Ketones vs Glucose Food Addiction What's next? Signature Question Follow Dr. Bikman: Website: https://gethlth.com/ Book- Why We Get Sick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbikmanphd/?hl=en Twitter: @BenBikmanPhD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenjaminBikmanPhD/ ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dr. Vera Tarman's Sugar & Food Addiction Course with Dr. Eric Westman's Adapt Your Life Academy next enrollment starts September 26th – October 3rd. The course is $167 US and the program is made up of 2 essential components: Modules and Lessons partnered with an Ongoing Support Group. Clarissa and I will be there too! YOU WILL LEARN Why your self-destructive behaviors around food are not your fault. How specific foods are engineered to hijack your brain chemistry. The role of hormones and neurotransmitters in creating and perpetuating cravings and urges around food. How "wanting," "knowing," and "doing" are controlled in the brain and how to make this work to your benefit. The differences between food addiction and various eating disorders and why this matters for diagnosis and treatment. The different stages of food addiction and which treatment approaches are best for each. The critical importance of social support in recovery from food addiction – why treatment must go beyond just the food. How to create a recovery plan that's realistic, enjoyable, and sustainable, so you can achieve food freedom and reclaim your life. There is hope: no matter how far gone you feel, no matter how alone or out of control, you can recover from sugar and food addiction. https://adaptyourlifeacademy.com/sugar-and-food-addiction/ The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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